Eastern Hancock FFA earns state title in livestock judging

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —For the third consecutive year, the Eastern Hancock FFA team of Kyle Jacobs, Seth Lawyer, Aaron Jones, and Kyle Wilson won first place at the Indiana Livestock Selection and Evaluation Career Development Judging event at Purdue University.

Individually, Kyle Jacobs was first, Seth Lawyer was second, Aaron Jones was fourth, and Kyle Wilson earned 10th place. This team will now represent Indiana at the national contest during the National FFA Convention this fall.

In the 4-H division, the team of Tyler White, Breanna Lawyer, Justin Roland and Caitlin Parke earned 6th place team honors.
Individually, Tyler White was 6th overall. The 4-H Team will represent Indiana at the Southeastern United States competition in Raleigh, N.C.

During the contest, members were required to place 12 classes of cattle, sheep, and swine and rank them for their breeding value and market qualities. Some classes also required the students to utilize scientifically developed growth and production data to aid in their ranking decisions.


Juniors travel to Harrisburg for swine show

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —Youth from across the country will join at the 7th annual National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) Eastern Regional at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., on Oct. 5-6, in conjunction with the Keystone International Livestock Exposition.

Participants will have the opportunity to compete in a skillathon, a showmanship contest and a purebred Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire gilt show. The overall champion gilt will win $1,000 and the reserve champion gilt will receive $500.

All NJSA members are eligible to participate if they are 21 years and under as of Jan. 1, 2007. There will be four divisions: Senior (17-21), Intermediate (13-16), Junior (9-12) and Novice (8 and under).

For more information, visit www.nationalswine.com


MSU students win gold at National Dairy Challenge

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Four Michigan State University (MSU) seniors competed against 28 other teams from the United States and Canada at the sixth annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC).

Students could place in four categories: first place – platinum, second place – platinum, gold and silver. MSU students achieved the gold award in the two-day event.

“The competition is a snapshot of what dairy consultants do day-to-day out in the dairy industry,” said Miriam Weber Nielsen, associate professor in the Department of Animal Science and NAIDC coach.

The NAIDC was designed as a management contest incorporating all phases of a business. Students combine what they have learned in the classroom with practical application to analyze dairies.

Student teams did a walk-through of the dairies, analyzed farm-specific data and presented management recommendations to a panel of judges.

“The contest allows students to take what they’ve learned and apply it to a real-life dairy while working as part of a team,” Nielsen said. “Students identify the skills and knowledge they’ll need to succeed in their various roles in the dairy industry in the future and make valuable contacts with other students and industry professionals.”

The team consisted of Matthew Oesch, from Alto, Mich., an agribusiness management senior; Elizabeth Douglass Marvel, from Fowler, Mich., an animal science senior; Jenny Nurenberg, from Pewamo, Mich., an animal science senior; and Joann Greenfield, from Annapolis, Md., also an animal science senior.

For more information about the NAIDC, go to www.dairychallenge.org


East Central wins state nursery and landscape event

SAINT LEON, Ind. — The East Central FFA Chapter participated in the recent Indiana FFA State Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event on May 12 at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center in Trafalgar, Ind.

The team included: Evan Back, Doug Frye, Kyle Pierson and Nicole Weiss.

The contest consisted of a general knowledge exam, landscape drawing practicum, landscape materials calculations, verbal customer assistance, plant propagation practicum and a team activity.

Overall, the team placed first and will represent the state at the national contest held this fall during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

This farm news was published in the June 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.